Electron discharge tube shield and mounting



June 24, 1958 w. L. ROTH ETAL 2,340,629

ELECTRON DISCHARGE TUBE SHIELD AND MOUNTING Filed April 22, 1953 WALTERL. ROTH ANDREW A. BOGDON INVENTORS WWW ATTORNEYS United States Patent()ELECTRON DISCHARGE TUBE SHIELD AND MOUNTING Application April 22, 1953,Serial No. 350,490

3 Claims. (Cl. 174-35) This invention relates to a new type of tubeshield and mounting for sub-miniature electron discharge'tu'bes.

The current trend towards reduction in the size and Weight of electronicapparatus has brought forth the miniature and the sub-miniature tube.The size of the latter tube is only a small fraction of that of theolder standard type tubes. This reduction in size has been achieved inpart by the elimination of the old Bakelite tube base with the heavypins which were received in holes formed in a tube socket permanentlywired into a circuit and aflixed to a chassis.

The sub-miniature tube has no base, as such, the glass envelope nowbeing merely pinched down around the small wire leads which havereplaced the heavy pins of the older tubes.

This change in tube construction has required new means for mountingtubes and many arrangements have been developed for this purpose. Thesearrangements have, however, been subject to various disadvantages, amongwhich are a tendency to scratch or stress the glass envelope, diflicultyin installing or removing the tube, failure to provide an adequate heatconductive path from tube to chassis, lack of shock absorptionqualities, excessive expense in manufacture and installation and wasteof space.

The problem of heat removal is especially severe in miniaturizedequipment due to the compactness of the assembly and the small sizes ofthe tubes, and the deficiency of previous mounts in this respect hasbeen pronounced.

The objects of the present invention include the elimination of theabove listed defects in a combined tube shield and mounting for asub-miniature tube.

The objects and advantages of the invention are realized in a tubemounting which comprises a channel shaped section secured to the chassisand a longitudinally interrupted cylindrical sleeve of resilientconductive material, the edges of the interrupted portion being bentoutwardly to engage flanged portions of the channel. The sleeve isdimensioned to receive the tube and to hold it snugly when the sleeve iscompressed to engage its longitudinal edges in the channel section.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe study of the following specification in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a tube mounting embodying the invention,the mounting being shown in assembled form enclosing a tube;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the sleeve portion of the mounting ofFig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the channel portion of the mounting ofFig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown anembodiment of the invention comprising a sleeve member 1 having theshape of a longitudinally interrupted cylinder. The material of themember 1 is 2,840,629 Patented June 24, 1958 turned outwardly along theinterruption to form a pair of flanges 2.

Coacting with the member 1 is a clip or channel memher 4, shown moreclearly in Fig. 3. This member comprises a rectangular flat base plate 5which may be provided with holes 6 near its ends for attachment to achassis. Formed integrally with the base plate 5 along the longer sidesthereof are a pair of flanges 7.

Beginning at their juncture with the base plate 5 the flanges 7 rise andcurve inwardly towards each other and then at about the mid-point oftheir shorter dimensions begin to flare outwardly. The flare continuesthrough the remainder of the shorter dimensions.

Both the members 1 and 4 are made of springy, electrically conductivematerial. A satisfactory material for this purpose is hard berylliumcopper. The base member 4 may be secured to the chassis by riveting,soldering or any other means which provides good conduction of heat andelectricity. If the base member is to be soldered to the chassis it ispreferably silver plated.

Fig. 1 shows the mounting assembled with a sub-minim ture tube 3 inplace within the sleeve member 1.

The cylindrical member 1 should be blackened for the most efiicientabsorption of heat. This member is so dimensioned with'respect to thetube it is to contain that upon being laterally pinched or compressedsillciently for the flanges 2 to be retained in the normal position ofrest within the flanges 7 of the base member, the member 1 is in tightcircumferential contact with the envelope of the contained tube. Thismakes for good heat transfer from the tube to the mount.

The flanges 2 and 6 should have enough resiliency that the member 1 maybe inserted into or removed from the member 4 by either vertical orendwise relative movement. Where space is at a premium it is desirableto be able to mount or demount the tube by movement normal to the baseplate 5. The resilience of the flanges 2 and 7 should be suflicient toallow such action when the mounting means is dimensioned to hold thetube firmly in place while at rest.

It can be seen that the invention obviates the difliculties referred toabove as encountered with known mounting means.

It encloses the major portion of the lateral surface of the tube,providing good shielding action and conduction of heat to the chassis.

It holds the envelope firmly by uniform contact and pressure over alarge area thus avoiding scratching and stressing thereof.

It permits easy installation and removal of the tube even in a crowdedlocation.

It grips the tube firmly yet resiliently over its full length and themajor portion of its circumference, thus providing an excellent shockabsorbing mounting.

It is simple and inexpensive to make and install. It lends itself tohigh speed production and requires no heat treatment during manufacture.

It closely surrounds the tube with the very minimum of protrusion, thuseconomizing space to the utmost.

While the mounting and shielding means has been described for use withsub-miniature tubes, since it is particularly advantageous for such use,it also offers advantages in some situations as a mounting for othertypes of tubes and for mounting other cylindrical circuit com ponentssuch as resistors or capacitors.

What is claimed is:

1. Means for shielding, cooling and supporting an electron dischargetube on a chassis, said means comprising a flat rectangular base memberof resilient metal having an extension formed integrally With each ofits longer sides and extending outwardly from the plane thereof, saidextensions being shaped to form a channel having outwardly concavesides, a member of resilient metal having the shape of a longitudinallyinterrupted cylinder, with the edges of said cylinder along saidlongitudinal interruption being turned outwardly to form a pair offlanges of substantially straight cross-sectionalconfiguration extendingradially from said cylinder, said flanges being receivable between thesides of said channel when said cylindrical member is compressed tobring the saidedges of said longitudinal interruption close together,and, when sb received, diverging from their juncture with said cylinderto their free longitudinal edges, said cylindrical member being sodimensioned as to completely enclose and grip said tube snugly oversubstantially its complete length when said tube is contained thereinand said flanges are at rest within said channel, whereby-said memberssubstantially completely shield and conduct heat away from the lateralsurface of said tube.

2. Means for shielding, cooling and supporting a cylindrical electricalcircuit component on a chassis, said means comprising a fiat rectangularbase member of resilient metal having an extension formed'integra-llywith each of its longer sides and extending outwardly'frorn the planethereof, said'extensions being shaped to form a channel having across-section which is uniform along its length, said extensionsconverging to a minimum separation which is less than the shorterdimension of said base member, a member of resilient metal having theshape of a longitudinally interrupted cylinder, with the edges of saidcylinder along said longitudinal interruption being turned outwardly toform a pair of flanges of substantially straight cross-sectionalconfiguration extending radially from said cylinder, said flanges beingreceivable between the sides of said channel when said cylindricalmember is compressed to bring the said edges of said longitudinalinterruption close together, and, when so received, diverging from theirjuncture with said cylinder to their free longitudinal edges, saidcylindrical member being so dimensioned as to completely enclose andgrip said component snugly over substantially its complete 2,840,629 p rl 4 length when said component is contained therein and said flanges areat rest within said channel, whereby said members substantiallycompletely shield and conduct heat away from the lateral surface of saidcomponent.

3. Means for shielding, cooling and supporting an electron dischargetube on a chassis, said means comprising a fiat rectangular base memberof resilient metal having an extension formed integrally with each ofits longer sides and extending outwardly from the plane thereof, saidextension being shaped to form a channel having a cross-section which isuniform along its length, said extensions converging to a minimumseparation which is less than the shorter dimension of said base membera member of resilient metal having the shape of'a longitudinallyinterrupted cylinder, with the edges of said cylinder along saidlongitudinal interruption being turned outwardly to form a pair offlanges of substantially straight crosssectional configuration extendingradially from'said cylinder, said flanges being receivable between thesides of said channel when said cylindrical member is compressed tobring the said edges of said longitudinal interruption close together,and, when so received, diverging 'from their juncture with said cylinderto their free longitudinal edges, said cylindrical member being sodimensioned as to completely enclose and grip said tube snugly oversubstantially its complete length when said tube is contained thereinand said fiangesare at rest within said channel,

whereby said members substantially completely shield and conduct heataway from the lateral surface of said tube.

llelierences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,484,382 Allitt Feb. 19, 1924 1,787,734 Rowling Jan. 6, 1931 2,193,758Bently Mar. 12, 1940 72,668,933 Shapiro Feb. 9, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS158,629 Great Britain 1 921

